Scientifically Proven Benefits of Sesame Oil for Skin

A yellow colored oil extracted from the seeds of sesame has been extensively used as a healing oil since many years. They have a nutty flavor and are rich in nutrients, hence they find themselves as a useful ingredient in many food dishes. Apart from cooking, they are also used as for cosmetic purposes, especially on skin health. In this article, we will discuss the benefits of sesame oil for skin health.

There inflammatory and antibacterial properties makes them effective enough to reduce pimples and prevents rashes from appearing in the skin. They are also capable in the quick healing process of wounds.

What Makes Sesame Oil Special?

The benefits of sesame oil is just amazing, they have been in use for over many years. They have grown in popularity mainly because of their medicinal value. Primarily found in parts of Africa, they are also present in some parts of India. They can do wonders in the treatment of skin, bones and teeth. Apart from that, they are highly nutritious and lubricating in nature. They are enriched with essential vitamins like E, B complex, D and minerals like calcium, phosphorus and some proteins that helps in the strengthening of hair.

Sesame oil is also used as a carrier oil for many cosmetic products. One of the major factors that prevents the usage of sesame oil broadly, is the expensive process that have to be carried out to extract them from the seed. Hence despite all these health benefits, their production is not as effective as other oils.

Effects of Sesame Oil on Skin

Sesame oil is filled with ingredients that are capable of providing a nice and silky texture for your skin. Presence of fatty acids along with linoleic acid makes them an effective moisturizer for skin. They are also rich in vitamin E, D and B complex which makes them effective enough to reduce scars and other rashes on the skin. In fact they find themselves an active ingredient in many of the modern cosmetic products.

They have high amount of viscosity and this particular property makes them good for massaging, they are capable of penetrating deep into the pores of skin. This penetrative power helps the oil to work from inside the surface of skin thereby regulating the circulation of blood.

We will now discuss some of the major benefits of sesame oil on skin.

1. Prevents Bacterial Infections

Sesame oil is found to be effective in the treatment of inflamed and wounded skin. It is their anti-inflammatory properties that makes them fight against bacterial infections. Since sesame seed itself is choked with anti-inflammatory properties, they can be used alone without mixing any other carrier oils. They are also supposed to reduce various skin infections and improvements in joint pains.

Research works done on sesame seems to show that also have anti-cancer properties capable of preventing the development and growth of cancer. As the oil penetrates deep into the skin, they will produce a detoxifying effect which will keep skin warm and fresh. Sesame oil is also used as a remedial measure for the treatment of certain skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.

2. Repairing Damaged Skin Cells

Sesame oil can be easily absorbed by skin since they are pretty thick and sticky in nature. For massaging purpose they are usually used along with carrier oils, but it depends largely on individual needs. They are very effective when it comes to repairing of damaged cells and improving blood circulation. It is perfectly safe and easy to mix sesame oil with other types of vegetable oils.

Massaging of body skin using sesame oil is aimed at the strengthening of body tissues which eventually helps in improving the appearance of skin. Sesame oil is well known for the treatment of many skin disorders.

3. Slows Down the Aging of Skin

Yet another exciting feature of sesame oil is that they can slow down the pace of skin aging. They prevent the skin cells from oxidation and improves skin rejuvenation. They have an antioxidant known as sesamol that prevents the appearances of wrinkles and small pores in skin. A mixture of sesame oil along with lavender oil can be used as a night cream. It is recommended to massage this mixture in circular motion to improve blood circulation. The best thing about using them as a night cream is that they are capable of fighting skin infections while you are asleep. Hence, every day you could wake up with a fresh skin. Yes there are many cosmetic products that serves the same purpose, but with sesame oil you get a natural feel.

Apart from slowing down the aging process, sesame oil is also capable of providing a glowing skin. Mix the oil with a bit of rice powder and apply it on your skin, this could help to close small pores leading to a glowing skin.

4. As a Moisturizer

Although there are many natural oils capable of providing moisturizing effect, none of them does it effectively like sesame oil. In fact they can act as both moisturizer and softener for body skin. Since they are natural, sesame oil can be used regularly without any fear of side effects.

Sesame oil has a bad reputation for its smell, but you can reduce them to a great extend by mixing with other carrier oils like Castor oil or Almond oil.

They find themselves an active ingredient in many sunscreens, skin cleansers and moisturizers because of their unique ability to soften up skin and hair. They are capable of keeping your skin hydrated and It is assumed that sesame oil is better suited for people with either normal or dry skin.

5. As Massage Oil

Although sesame oil might appear little heavier compared to other oils, they are still used as a great massaging oil. They are well known for their detoxification property. Massaging with sesame oil can help you remove environmental toxins from your body, leaving yourself completely detoxified. Since skin is the largest organ of our body, more toxins are released by them. Hence it is important to detoxify our body skin periodically to stay fresh and healthy.

Apart from this, massaging also helps in improving blood circulation. A perfect massage could not only perform detoxification but can also improve the elasticity of body skin.

In order to derive all the benefits of sesame oil massage, you need to use Cured Sesame Oil. Curing of oil improves the antioxidant properties to a large extend. It feels good to the skin and it doesn’t stay greasy.

6. As Natural Sunscreen

Are you tired of using sunscreen lotions? Are you not satisfied with their effects? Then turn towards natural sunscreens to protect your skin. Sesame oil is capable of forming a protective film over the skin to eliminate the damages done by free radicals. If you are trying to avoid chemical sunscreens, then applying sesame oil on skin is a great idea. The presence of vitamin E in sesame acts as an antioxidant. Mix a few drops of carrot seed oil along with sesame oil. This will act as an effective sunscreen and keep your skin fresh.

7. As a Nutrient Source

Sesame oil is rich in essential fatty acids like linoleic acid and palmitic acids. It is linoleic acid that gives both antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties for sesame oil. They are also rich in minerals like copper, manganese, calcium and magnesium. The oil is rich in antioxidants, hence they are easily absorbed into the skin, nourishes it from deep inside and promotes skin softness.

Sesame oil is found to have Vitamin E , B-complex and D in very high amounts. Niacin is a variant of B-complex that is capable of reducing LDL- cholesterol levels in blood. Other than that they are capable of enhancing GABA activity inside the brain which in turn helps in reducing anxiety and neurosis.

How to Use Sesame Oil on Skin

In order to effectively make use of the benefits of Sesame oil, you need to use them properly following certain procedures. The oil is found to work on all kind of skins and because of its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, they can be applied even to acne prone skin.

In case of oily skin, it is better to be cautious before applying sesame oil as we can’t be sure about how the skin will react to the oil. Since the oil is nutritious, it really doesn’t matter whether you are using it as a cleanser or massaging oil. It will leave your skin smooth and shiny.

Did you know?You shed a complete layer of skin every 4 weeks.

You can use sesame oil as a body treatment through different methods.

One of the best ways of applying the oil is after a hot shower. Wait for the skin to get wet and slowly massage the oil onto your skin. Leave it like that for around 10 minutes and completely rub them into the skin. Doing this could keep your skin moisturized throughout the day.

Yet another effective method is to apply the oil before taking the bath. Sesame oil is capable of removing toxins from the skin, so washing your body after applying the oil will help in the easy removal of toxins.

Sesame oil can be used as a beauty mixture for night use, by mixing few drops of sesame oil along with a combination of vinegar and water. The presence of sesame helps in getting the skin moisturized and the vinegar in it prevents decolorization of skin and removes dead cells from skin.

Apart from that, sesame oil is a natural UV protector. Using them on a daily basis could limit the direct exposure of your skin to sun and thereby slowing down the effects of aging. They are also found to be an active barrier against smoke and other pollutants in air.

How to Choose Sesame Oil?

Many brands of sesame oil are available on market, hence sometimes people gets confused on which brand to choose or which one has better quality! But when it comes to oils of different brands only trial and error method could land us on a proper decision. Usually the original form of sesame oil is on the expensive side. Sesame oils comes mainly in two forms refined and unrefined. Just like any other oils, while purchasing, make sure they are covered and sealed to ensure maximum freshness. Make sure you smell the containers to ensure that they smell fresh and clean.

The fast and easiest way to get sesame oil is through online stores. In those stores they might be present under the categories like Beauty or Personal Care. You can also find them in cosmetic stores and It is always wise to purchase from such shops. Sesame oil should always be stored in a cool, dry place to enhance their lifespan.

Sesame oil has been in use for many years both for its culinary and health benefits. Still you should be cautious while using them, over dosage of sesame oil can have adverse effects. So make sure you know your needs and requirements before using them.

Have you ever enjoyed the health benefits of sesame oil? If so, let us know your thoughts and feedback. Do you know any other oils to suggest other than sesame oil? We would love to hear from you.